Ok, howdy hey! Kinda something I just... wrote with both my sleep deprived brain and what little sanity I have left. Somewhat inspired by books such as Percy Jackson, the Magisterium series, and Gallowgate, as well as my love for the stars and all things mysterious. I hope you enjoy draft one! ^^ (Revisions will be made offsite lol) Oh yeah also first time writing a book in third person wowie
The stars shone lightly behind the canopy of clouds, the only other light source aside from the woman’s dimly-lit lantern, in the valley of dancing fireflies and singing crickets. The woman, dressed in her magenta cloak of silk and rope, with long, dangling earrings of the moon and sun, felt the urgency of the stars as twilight began to wane with the coming dawn. Her name was Sylvia Lorrei, a mother of an infant boy and wife to a man of death, professor at a school for magic and enemy of the sea. Desperately, she trotted through the long grass and towards the peculiar figure of the thirteen large stones hanging beneath the moon, the Zodiac images of a ram, a bull, to crabs and lions, reflecting the silenceness of the night and the need to deliver her message. Dawn began approaching as the sky tinted gray, the sun yet not rising above the horizon, as Sylvia finally entered the circle of stones, an entrance into the Lunarium's School of Magic. In the center of the stones stood a smaller pedestal, coated by thin lines of opal that ran all across the small thing. She approached with her lantern, illuminating the statues that sat guard beneath the large stones, and setting it upon the pedestal. The lines etched to the sides began to glow brightly, spreading across the ground until they reached the idle figures of the Zodiac guards, and their eyes begun to glow. The sound of stone on stone filled the silent dawn, interrupting the song of the bugs and the croaking of summer frogs, as the lion lifted his head proudly. He turned towards Sylvia with two large, obsidian-like eyes, which glowed faintly of the color purple. Standing to his paws, Leo approached the woman with the care of a gentle house cat, stopping mere feet from her. He sat back upon his hunches, shaking his great mane, before referring to the woman. “Dear Sylvia,” He spoke, his voice unlike how the common ear would expect, proper and smooth. As the great lion did so, the other lifeless figures of the stone guards began to spark to motion, stretching out their limbs and, some, even offering a polite smile to the mother. “Our friend, to what may we owe the pleasure?” She wiped the tears from her eyes, ones she hadn’t known she’d been crying, before giving a reply to the lion she had become so acquainted with. “Leo, I fear the worst. My husband hasn’t returned in some time, and I worry about what might have come to him.” Leo was silent as his obsidian eyes dropped to the floor, as if the stone statue were considering the implications of Sylvia’s fears. When he finally raised them, they seemed more solemn than when he had first greeted his old friend. “Then the school may be in danger. Hurry, you must warn Professor Maloway before it’s too late.” Distantly, a bell rang in the ears of all of them, many turning their heads towards the direction of the sound, before concluding where it had come. Leo stood to his paws, a growl escaping from deep in his throat. “He’s here.” Sylvia could feel her heart drop to her stomach as the bell continued ringing in the ears of the assembled Zodiacs. Pisces lifted their heads, the floating fish's eyes shone with four sparkling topaz as they spoke in unison to the group. “Aries, Taurus, Libra, and Sagittarius, head first to the school. Leo, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, Aquarius and Capricorn follow behind. Rest attend to those who may need help.” They turned their eyes upon Sylvia, as if testing her loyalty to the Lunarium, before finally speaking again. “And Sylvia, find Professor Maloway.” Everyone had already begun moving into place after Pisces had completed their statement, though Sylvia couldn’t seem to find her footing. Group one was already moving out as the request from the two enlarged fish seemed to register in the mind of Sylvia, her eyes raising to meet the orange of them solemnly. “But, what about Zack? He needs help!” The right fish seemed to regard her for some time, while the left one’s gaze softened. Despite their connected mindsets, it was rare if the fish ever had differing opinions. When the fish finally came to a conclusion, they both spoke, the morning sun glinting lightly off their backs. “Your husband is an enemy of the Lunarium.” And, with that, they followed after the group of departing Zodiacs. Sylvia stood, alone, in the pillars of the thirteen fleeting star signs, conflicted on what to do. On the one hand, she still loved Zack, despite the man he was. On the other hand, she trusted Professor Maloway and his judgement. Sucking in a breath, she started after the fleeing tail of Pisces, her final decision made as they approached the large mountains, and opened to the Lunarium School of Magic. -Jasper
